Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar recently underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor from his arm, according to a report from NFL Network. The tumor was placing pressure on his biceps tendon and labrum, leading to pain and weakness. Aguilar is expected to make a full recovery within approximately eight weeks. Notably, he played through the condition without public disclosure during the season.
The surgery took place just days after Aguilar started in Tennessee’s Music City Bowl loss to Illinois. In that game, he completed 14 of 18 passes for 121 yards and added a rushing touchdown against the Fighting Illini.
Aguilar transferred to Tennessee in April following the departure of former starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. During the season, he appeared in all 13 games for the Volunteers and delivered one of the most productive passing performances in program history. He finished the year with 3,565 passing yards, ranking third in the SEC and third all-time among Tennessee quarterbacks. His total is also the highest by a Vols passer since Tyler Bray recorded 3,612 yards in 2012.
Averaging 274.2 passing yards per game, Aguilar led the SEC in that category. He surpassed 300 passing yards in four games and threw for at least 250 yards in more than half of Tennessee’s 2025 matchups.
Before arriving in Knoxville, Aguilar briefly spent time at UCLA after transferring from Appalachian State. While at Appalachian State, he started 24 games over two seasons and earned 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors after throwing for 3,757 yards and 33 touchdowns.
There remains a slim possibility that Aguilar could receive an additional year of eligibility due to an ongoing lawsuit involving fellow quarterback Diego Pavia and the NCAA. However, the more likely scenario is that Aguilar will pursue opportunities at the NFL level. His recovery timeline may limit his ability to fully participate in the NFL Combine, should he be invited, or Tennessee’s pro day workouts.
